Granted Patent B2

US 12,376,670 · App. 17/517,957 · Granted Aug 5, 2025

Inventor: Uwe Jungnickel (Königstein, DE)

Assignee: The Gillette Company LLC

A46B5/02A46B5/0095A46B2200/1066

Abstract

Claims (22)

1. A handle ( 12 ) for a personal care implement ( 10 ), the handle ( 12 ) comprising a connector ( 16 ) for repeatedly attaching and detaching a head ( 14 ) to and from the handle ( 12 ) with a substantially linear motion in an axial direction of the handle, the handle ( 12 ) having a longitudinal extension ( 28 ) extending between a proximal end ( 30 ) closest to the head ( 14 ) and a distal end ( 32 ) opposite to the proximal end ( 30 ), the handle ( 12 ) further comprising:

a core structure ( 18 ), the core structure ( 18 ) and the connector ( 16 ) being unitarily made to form a core-connector unit ( 20 ), and

an overmolded second component ( 22 ) that is at least partially covering the core structure ( 18 ) such that the core structure ( 18 ) is at least partially embedded in the overmolded second component ( 22 ), wherein the overmolded second component ( 22 ) comprises polymeric material, wherein

the core structure ( 18 ) has a longitudinal extension ( 34 ) extending at least 75% along the longitudinal extension ( 28 ) of the handle ( 12 ), the core structure ( 18 ) comprising a plurality of protrusions ( 36 ) disposed along the length extension ( 34 ) of the core structure ( 18 ) interlocking with and embedded in the overmolded second component ( 22 ),

the plurality of protrusions ( 36 ) extending from the longitudinal extension ( 34 ) of the core structure ( 18 ) in a substantially orthogonal direction,

wherein each of the plurality of protrusions ( 36 ) forms a structure selected from the group consisting of a rib, a fin, a bar, a bridge, and a nub.

2. The handle ( 12 ) of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of protrusions ( 36 ) extend from the longitudinal extension ( 34 ) of the core structure ( 18 ) in a substantially perpendicular manner.

3. The handle ( 12 ) of claim 1 , wherein the core-connector unit ( 20 ) is made from a fiber-reinforced material.

4. The handle ( 12 ) of claim 3 , wherein the fiber-reinforced material comprises from 10 wt % to 50 wt % of fiber.

5. The handle ( 12 ) of claim 4 , wherein the fiber-reinforced material comprises from 25 wt % to 35 wt % of fiber.

6. The handle ( 12 ) of claim 3 , wherein the fiber is selected from the group consisting of glass fibers, carbon fibers, aramid fibers, basalt fibers, wood fibers, and any combination thereof.

7. The handle ( 12 ) of claim 6 , wherein the polymer base material of at least one of the core-connector unit and the second component is selected from the group consisting of polyamide, styrene acrylonitrile resin, polybutylene terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate, recycled plastic materials, and any combination thereof.

8. The handle ( 12 ) of claim 3 , wherein the fiber-reinforced material is a composite material comprising a polymer base material.

9. The handle ( 12 ) of claim 8 , wherein the filler material constitutes from 50 wt % to 80 wt % of the polymeric material.

10. The handle ( 12 ) of claim 3 , wherein the fiber-reinforced material has a density of from about 1 g/cm 3 to about 1.7 g/cm 3 .

11. The handle ( 12 ) of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric material of the overmolded second component ( 22 ) includes a polymer base material and an inorganic filler material.

12. The handle ( 12 ) of claim 11 , wherein the filler material is selected from the group consisting of zinc oxide, iron oxide, barium sulfate, titanium dioxide, aluminium oxide, and any combination thereof.

13. The handle ( 12 ) of claim 11 , wherein the polymeric material of the overmolded second component ( 22 ) has a density of from about 2 g/cm 3 to about 3.5 g/cm 3 .

14. A personal care implement ( 10 ) comprising the handle ( 12 ) of claim 1 and a head ( 14 ).

15. The handle ( 12 ) of claim 1 , wherein the core structure ( 18 ) extends at least 85% along the length extension ( 28 ) of the handle ( 12 ).

16. The handle ( 12 ) of claim 1 , wherein the connector ( 16 ) of the core-connector unit ( 20 ) further comprises a collar ( 38 ) at an intersection ( 40 ) to the core structure ( 18 ).

17. The handle ( 12 ) of claim 16 , wherein the collar ( 38 ) comprises a step ( 39 ) or recess ( 38 ) arranged to be in direct contact with the second component ( 22 ).

Assignments (1)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (400)